Literary giant and well-respected academic and philosopher, Prof. Oliver Friggieri, was laid to rest on Wednesday 25 November, as many paid their final respects to him in the funeral organised by the state.  

Friggieri passed away at his home on 21 November 2020, aged 73. His daughter broke the news on Facebook, and heartfelt tributes immediately started to pour in from all those impacted by his exemplary work and life.

Prime Minister Robert Abela described Prof. Friggieri’s passing as a great loss for the Maltese nation, as he was one of the main protagonists of our intellectual history. 

The funeral cortège left Mater Dei Hospital on Wednesday afternoon and passed by a number of places he was closely linked to. At every stop, people who have been influenced by his extraordinary contributions lined the streets to get a good glimpse of the coffin.  

As Prof. Friggieri was an active member of the UM community, the cortège made its way to the University of Malta Msida Campus, with the hearse being driven along the Ring Road and stopping in Car Park 5 where Chancellor Prof. David Attard and Rector Prof. Alfred J. Vella paid their final respects and placed a wreath on Prof. Friggieri’s coffin.

His long-time friend and member of staff Vince Fabri gave an emotional rendition of the poem Hekk Biss Ikun Poeta.

Other members from the UM community who were present to give their final salute included the University Pro-Rectors as well as most of the members from the Department of Maltese and the Faculty of Arts, which Prof. Friggieri was an integral part of, first as a lecturer, then as Head of Department,.

Emotions ran high as his former colleagues remembered his great humility and camaraderie.

“Oliver was, still is and will remain an important figure not just within the University community but for the whole nation. Loved by his students and colleagues alike, he will be sorely missed – but we shall work together to honour his legacy and respect his work”, said the UM Rector.

The cortège, made a number of brief stops in other localities and proceeded to the St John’s Co-Cathedral for the funeral mass which was celebrated by the Archbishop, Mons. Charles Scicluna.  

Campus FM, the University's Radio Station, will be broadcasting a live transmission of the funeral mass in collaboration with PBS. Listen online. 

Follow the cortège live on TVM.

Follow the UM Instagram account, and watch the video below for some highlights from the cortège while it passed through the University Ring Road.  

Leaf through some snaps of Prof. Friggieri from our archives: